On a late Saturday afternoon, the life of Jimmie Lee Ross, Jr., a 33-year-old Black male from Lexa, Arkansas, was tragically cut short. The incident occurred on February 6, 2021, along U.S. Highway 49 in Phillips County, near the Monroe County line. Ross was behind the wheel of his vehicle, driving northbound with two passengers, 29-year-old Ashanti Jones and a 16-month-old infant.
The quiet of the afternoon was shattered when an unidentified vehicle pulled alongside Ross's car and
unleashed a spray of gunfire. Both Ross and Jones were struck by the bullets. The infant, secured in the vehicle, was miraculously unharmed. Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene, and the wounded were transported to a hospital in Stuttgart. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Jimmie Lee Ross, Jr. succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. Ashanti Jones was later transferred to a medical facility in Little Rock to receive further treatment for her wounds.
The Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division promptly launched a homicide investigation into the drive-by shooting. However, the make and model of the assailant's vehicle remained unknown, and authorities were left with few immediate leads. As of the latest available information, the investigation remains open and active. To date, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Jimmie Lee Ross, Jr., and no suspects have been publicly identified. Authorities continue to appeal to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the case and bring those responsible to justice.
